r2k443 Victoria Secret supermodel, Heidi Klum hosts this unique and fabulous reality show. The show is about a bunch of designers, whether seasoned, professional, or amateur. They compete to go to Olympus Fashion Week and to win $100,000 to start their own line, a mentor ship at a fashion company, and a new car. Each week, designers design. Each week, one person wins a challenge. Each week, a designer is voted off until only three are left to attend Olympus fashion week. Three designers show off their designs at Olympus fashion week. And only one can be the winner. This is Project Runway. An awesome reality show which shows off unknown designers' designs. Watch what happens!

podracer96 Project Runway Season 2 bested the first season by bringing us a compelling cast of characters/contestants this time around. First of all, the "recurring characters" of Project Runway are attractive and articulate fashion experts whose own careers are well-established enough that they don't need to star in a reality TV show. Host and executive producer Heidi Klum, the supermodel nicknamed "The Body", comes across as intelligent and authoritative, even as she tosses each week's loser with a curt "You're out; auf wiedersehn" and a kiss on each cheek. Contestants' mentor Tim Gunn, head of Parsons Design School, has the amazing ability of providing feedback to works-in-progress with his wide vocabulary and catch phrases "Carry on" and "Make it work." Judges Michael Kors, fashion designer, and Nina Garcia, Elle fashion editor, return from last season to cross-examine the contestants. Kors in particular has a biting yet matter-of-fact way of condemning a design. Sixteen designers dwindle down to a lucky final three who each get the chance to present a collection at Olympus Fashion Week in New York, the climax of the series. The designers compete in a weekly challenge, usually the task of designing a dress around a particular theme or using specific materials under an extremely tight deadline. Each designer has a model who wears the dress on the runway before the judges.Klum presents each challenge and announces the modest amount of money they have to work with. Gunn checks in on the contestants as they frantically design, sew, and fit the dresses. Contestants also speak directly into the camera in interviews where they discuss their inner thoughts and external conflicts. The completed dresses are modeled on the runway before Klum, Kors, Garcia, and a guest judge (this season's celebrity judges include Badgeley & Mischka, Nicky Hilton, and Iman). The designers with the best and worst designs remain on the runway for questioning by the judges. One by one, designers are asked to leave the runway until the winning and losing designers of that challenge are announced. This selection and elimination process is always handled somewhat differently from one episode to the next, keeping the suspense high for the viewer.What makes this reality show effectively better than most others is that the contestants MUST have talent and skill to get cast! In Season 2, the designers vary from fresh fashion school graduates Daniel Vosovic and Diana to the older Marla, who already owns her own business. The cast of this season is particularly memorable. My favorite designer to watch is Andrae, a 30-something designer from L.A. with an affected accent, who famously breaks down and cries on the runway.This season the "villain" role played in the first season by Wendy Pepper is the ever-watchable Santino. From his intimidating height to his rude remarks and outlandish designs, Santino elicited gut reactions from the other contestants and had no qualms getting into verbal tussles with the judges.Some of the challenges from the first season were also re-introduced this time around, such as making a dress from plants and flowers. Some of the challenges were complicated and yet made for great television. For instance, designers were taken off guard when told to design a dress using only the clothes off their back. Another time, designers were given a digital camera and instructed to take pictures, select a single photo, and use it as inspiration for a dress design.For a reality show in its second season, an element of gimmickry seeped in. Designers were asked to design a dress for My Scene Barbie. They also had to design a dress suitable for the racks of Banana Republic AND design a window display using their live model. Nevertheless each challenge was always rooted in fashion and always fun to watch.Another attribute of this wonderful series are the strategic decisions made in editing and sound. The original music for the show is catchy and viewers learn to anticipate the cues: this bit of clanging music when we hold our breath before Heidi Klum announces the winner, that bit of sad music when the losing designer walks off the runway with the camera relentlessly following their silhouette as it disappears from view.Sophisticated reality show viewers now know that behind-the-scenes producer decisions and crafty editing can mislead those trying to guess the winner of an episode or of the series. Project Runway is no exception to these practices. But we don't feel manipulated. At each episode's conclusion, viewers see the winning dress, hear what the designers and judges have to say, and either agree or disagree with the outcome. That's the power of fashion. Someone else may decide what's in or out, but everyone is entitled to keep their own opinion.

whystical I tune into this show every week, it's interesting to see a glimpse of the design process. Although it is thrilling to see the final garments on the runway, I would still like to see more of the designing...perhaps I'd like to see the camera zooming in on the designers so we can see how they make the clothes but that might get in the way. Heidi could change her tone of voice a bit, I understand that she needs to repeat the instructions in every episodes but it seems like she is a recording. I also wonder why Tim is not on the judging panel since after all he does have design expertise. I particularly enjoy reading "Tim's Take" on the designs from each episode, it would be nice if the producers could incorporate these comments into the show. While I was watching the earlier episodes I was thinking that there should be designers as judges as opposed to fashion editors (even if it is for Elle magazine) but thankfully in the later episodes Heidi has included fashion designers in the judging panel. I was particularly saddened to see Vanessa go because she admitted that she "couldn't sew", it seems as if admitting your weaknesses and taking the blame for letting down the team as opposed to pointing fingers is not the thing to do. Sure, they need to have self-confidence but some humility and honesty wouldn't hurt.Anyway this show is great, it stands out from the rest of reality TV because of the creativity and originality. Austin is an amazing designer but I feel he has his own vision and tends to not compromise and apply himself to the task at hand. I'm rooting for Kara Saun, she seems like a true professional.

hilljayne This is NOT America's Next Top Model! Whereas that show focuses on finding the next hot model, Project Runway is in search of the fashion industry's next hot DESIGNER. Here we are given twelve designers. The ultimate winner wins a $100,000 prize to start their own line and a mentorship with Banana Republic. Each week they are given a task....There is a winner and a loser ("You're een or your oute" as host Heidi Klum says). The winner wins immunity for the next challenge and the loser is sent packing. The thing that sets this show apart from other reality shows is we are given a glimpse of the ACTUAL design process. Its thrilling to see a garment made completely from scratch, and we are shown that. We have judges such as Michael Kors (worldly famous designer). We get to know the designers and we love them or love to hate them. There's the "king" of glamour designer Austin Scarlett. Mr. Rock N Roll Jay. The most consistent designer Kara Saun. Newcomer Nora. Mr Charming Robert Plotkin. Fashionista Vanessa Riley. Finishes in the last minute Kevin. Some others who were cut early on. Is there a star? Maybe Austin or Kara Saun or Jay........or the show's villianness Wendy Pepper who came in as the underdog and ranted and raved about the other designers but still has managed to make it the final 3. The show is so addictive and takes you in you actually feel as you have an investment in the show. The show is also proof that word of mouth can save a show. The show suffered low ratings early on but slowly and surely has acquired a huge following and is now Bravo's #1 show. Project Runway 2? Soon I am sure...